8 days to go for CAT 2014: Get tips from 100 percentilers
CAT 2014 is just ten days away. It’s time to push your preparation strategy in revision gear, identify your strengths and weaknesses.
CAT 2014 pattern change has several benefits and opportunities. Five important exam features you need to know. Candidates can avail mock tests on the official website.
We decided to talk to the toppers of CAT 2013 who are currently studying in top B-schools across India. Tejaswi Kasturi, Abhiram Iyer, Siva Surya Teja, Anirudh Batra and Jainik Dedhia scored 100 percentile, while Rishab Bajaj scored 99.9 percentile.
This is what the six toppers had to say to CAT 2014 aspirants:
Current Institute: IIM Ahmedabad
CAT 2013 score: 100 percentile
The important thing is to know the fundamentals well. It helps a lot in solving problems quickly. CAT is all about solving quickly and accurately. When you learn concepts, don’t learn them for the sake of learning – understand how the formula came about; understand why we are solving like this. In an exam we may directly apply formula, but in some cases formulas may not be very straightforward, and it will take you forever to answer a question.
In verbal section, improve by reading a lot. Reading not only imparts knowledge but opens up new worlds for you. Read a lot – not only for CAT prep – but because it is a good habit.
And finally, manage your time well.
Current Institute: IIM Bangalore
CAT 2013 score: 100 percentile
Try to solve as many mock tests as you can. You also need to analyse the mocks properly. Find out your weak section and attack that. There is no reason why anyone can’t score fully in CAT. And just try your best. Do not give up half way because you could not convert it. This is my third attempt and I am happy that I did not settle down and decided not to give up CAT. Just have the fire. It’s enough.
Current Institute: IIM Calcutta
CAT 2013 score: 100 percentile
Make sure you get to the depth of the concept you are studying. Don’t learn the problem but approach towards it. This is one important thing for the quant section. For the verbal section, the one thing that worked in my favour the most is the understanding of the paragraph. Do not use your outside knowledge in the paper. Accept what is given in the paragraph only use that knowledge to answer the questions that are asked.
Current Institute: IIM Ahmedabad
CAT 2013 score: 100 percentile
Everyone has their own journey; everyone has their own strengths as well as their own weaknesses. So, you cannot put any one advice out there. My only advice is that you should not be discouraged (if you are not able to crack CAT), do not take it to heart; it works out fine that way. You should always think that- I have other options also.
Currently working
CAT 2013 score: 100 percentile
Concentrate more on weak areas during preparation. You are supposed to do equally good in both the sections. Some IIMs have individual cut offs in paper 1 and paper 2. So, one shouldn’t lose out in a particular section.
Current Institute: IIM Calcutta
CAT 2013 score: 99.99 percentile
For CAT 2014, it is quite obvious that one needs to build a clear cut strategy, a plan B in case of exigencies, and of course speed. Switching between sections did not happen during our time, which would frustrate me as I needed more time in quant than in verbal. So it's a good thing they brought up this time. Every second is precious, and not getting stuck on a single question is what is required for attempting maximum questions. Make sure you select the right questions and plan the sequence of paper according to your strengths.
Do not take pressure on the D-day. Sleep well on the day before. Be consistent in your preparations. Try not to pile things up for the end. That's it and you will see yourself get through.
